B-HP band competition is homecoming of sorts

Westside High School color guard and band members perform Silk Road Journey during the James R. Golden Invitational at Belton-Honea Path High School.

Pendleton High School color guard members dance around band members during their performance of Clowns at the James R. Golden Invitational at Belton-Honea Path High School.

Winners of Third Annual James R. Golden Invitational Band Competition:

CLASS A

Chesnee — First place, excellent rating, best percussion line, best horn line

Palmetto — Second place, quality rating

Abbeville — Third place, quality rating, best band front, favorite band director

CLASS AA

Pickens — First place, superior rating, best percussion line, best horn line

Ninety-Six — Second place, excellent rating, best band front

Silver Bluff — Third place, excellent rating

Timberland — Fourth place, excellent rating

CLASS AAA

Pendleton — First place, superior rating, best band front, best percussion line, best horn line

Gaffney — Second place, excellent rating

Westside — Third place, excellent rating

CLASS AAAA

Easley — First place, superior rating, best band front

T.L. Hanna — Second place, superior rating, best horn line

Wren — Third place, superior rating, best percussion line

Crowds filled Belton-Honea Path High School football stadium Saturday as buses, cargo trailers, box trucks and even 18-wheelers arrived at the parking lot as bands practiced in front of the school.

They were preparing for competition in the Third Annual James R. Golden Invitational Band Competition.

Thirteen bands were on hand for the competition. Timberland High School traveled the farthest for the competition, driving about four hours from St. Stephen.

Belton native and Belton-Honea Path graduate Tim Evans, who is the band director at Timberland, took band under Golden when he attended school.

"I've always wanted to be able to come back to the area and perform," Evans said.

Evans said they wanted to perform in the event since it was started three years ago. They had the opportunity to come this year and plan to come back every other year.

Timberland Band Booster President Gwen Crosby and band parent Mary Blanding said they were excited about being able to come and get to learn about where their band director grew up and get the opportunity to meet his family.

Gaffney Band Director Francis Norris was another former Belton resident who brought his band to the competition.

"I thought I would bring my band somewhere different," Norris said.

The band played in a competition in Mauldin last year and wanted to play a different location this year, he said.

Belton-Honea Path Band Booster President Angie Clinkscales said parents spent three months planning the competition, with 50-60 parents and band booster members helping to make it a reality. Band members also helped in the concession stands and at the gates.

"It wouldn't be possible without the support of the parents," Clinkscales said.